ABSTRACT
Meningitis is a public health concern that requires prompt response. A severe form of
meningococcal meningitis occurred in Nigeria in 1996 and 2017. This is the most serious
epidemic ever recorded in Nigeria and the largest in Africa. It took several months with the
combined efforts of a national task force set up by the Federal Ministry of Health, World Health
Organization, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and several other non-governmental
organizations to bring the epidemic under control. The mortality is between 10% – 15%. High
temperature, low humidity, poverty, and overcrowding usually trigger the epidemic. The main
control measures such as active case search, treatment of infected persons, mass vaccination
and health education will significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Meningitis, epidemiology, epidemics, prevention, Nigeria
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